Apparatus for cable routing

ABSTRACT

A communication system includes an outer housing, an inner housing, and a hanger plate assembly. The outer housing has first and second side walls. The inner housing is at least partially positioned within the outer housing. The inner housing has first and second side walls and is configured to receive a plurality of patch panel devices therein in a stacked arrangement. The hanger plate assembly includes a first hanger plate hingedly coupled to the first side wall of the inner housing and a plurality of hangers connected to the first hanger plate in a stacked arrangement. Each hanger is adapted to support a cable thereon. The hanger plate assembly has a stored condition in which the hanger plate assembly is fully positioned within the outer housing, and a pulled out condition in which the hanger plate assembly is at least partially positioned outside the outer housing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/270,234, filed on Sep. 20, 2016, which claims the benefit of thefiling date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/221,897 filedSep. 22, 2015, the disclosures of which are both hereby incorporated byreference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSOURE

The present disclosure generally relates to a device and a system forrouting and managing cables coupled to communication connectors,adapters, and/or ports. More particularly, the present disclosurerelates to cable routing and management systems for patch panel devices.

In communications cabinets and racks, a multitude of cables areinterconnected to one another through connectors, e.g., adapters. Acable organization unit typically has a tray or a shelf or a similarplatform, which supports the connectors. Examples of cable organizationunits include patch panels.

A patch panel houses cable connectors and in the majority of cases israck mounted. The patch panel typically is two-sided; the front of thepatch panel provides for connections to relatively short wires orcables, and the rear of the patch panel usually provides for connectionto relatively long wires or cables. This setup facilitates theperformance of temporary alterations to the front of the patch panelwithout disturbing the connections in the rear. Sometimes, the cablesconnected to the front of the patch panel may interconnect differentpatch panels and may be relatively short or may be part of longercables. The patch panel facilitates interconnecting, monitoring, andcircuit testing of equipment without necessitating costly switchingequipment.

Early applications for patch panels were for telephone exchanges, wherethey are still used albeit in a more automated form. Patch panels arealso used extensively in the entertainment industry, e.g., in recordingand television studios. They are also used in concert halls to manageconnections among equipment, e.g., microphones, speakers, and otherelectronic equipment. Patch panels are valued for such purposes not onlyfor their convenience and relative cost effectiveness, but also becausethey make it easier to identify problems such as feedback, ground loops,and static.

Traditional fiber optic cable organization units include fiber opticshelves having a single patch panel or multiple modular panels on thefront patching side of the shelf. It is desirable to provide patchpanels having increased connector port density, i.e., the number oflocations or ports per unit volume of area for providing connections. Tothis end, smaller sized connectors are increasingly being utilized.

A variety of optical fiber connectors are available, with the SubscriberConnector (SC) and the Lucent Connector (LC) being the most common. Thedifferences among the types of connectors include dimensions and methodsof mechanical coupling. For instance, SC connectors use a round 2.5 mmferrule to hold a single fiber and use a push-on/pull-off matingmechanism. The ferrule of an LC connector is half the size as that of anSC connector, measuring only 1.25 mm. LC connectors use a retaining tabmechanism, which is similar to that found on a household phoneconnector.

In data communication and telecommunication applications, smallconnectors, e.g., LC, are increasingly replacing traditional connectors,e.g., SC. The main advantage of small connectors over larger sizedconnectors is the ability to provide a higher number of fibers per unitof rack space. Since the LC connector is roughly half the size as the SCconnector, the placement of almost twice the number of connectors ispossible within the same amount of space by using the LC connectorinstead of the SC connector.

However, there are disadvantages associated with using smallerconnectors. As more connectors are placed within the same amount ofspace, accessing the connectors which is often performed by hand maypresent a challenge. Adult fingers typically have a diameter of 16 mm to20 mm. Some people may have larger or misshapen fingers. Therefore, theuse of small connectors, such as the LC having a 1.25 mm diameterferrule, may be especially problematic for technicians having larger orless dexterous hands. Commonly, LC connectors are held together in aduplex configuration with a plastic clip. While holding smaller sizedconnectors in a duplex configuration may make it easier for a technicianto access and/or remove LC connectors, it also means that two connectorsare necessarily affected by any given servicing procedure.

There is a continuing need for new devices and systems to facilitateaccessing communication adapters and/or cables supported bycommunication patching devices and systems.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the disclosure, a communication systemincludes a housing, a tray, and a cable guide. The tray has a pluralityof ports each having a front face connectable to a cable, the traymovably engaged with the housing and having a first positionsubstantially inside the housing and a second position substantiallyoutside the housing. The cable guide has a fixed position with respectto the housing and is for supporting at least one of the plurality ofcables. In the first position, the front faces of the ports are a firstdistance from the cable guide and, in the second position, the frontfaces of the ports are a second distance from the cable guide less thanthe first distance. The cable guide may further include a mounting armconfigured for fixing to the housing. The cable guide may have aplurality of shelves arranged in a stacked configuration, each shelfhaving a first end and a second free end spaced apart from the firstend. The first end of a first shelf may be connected to the first end ofa second shelf by a convex surface, the first and second shelves beingadjacent to one another. A first fin may extend from the second free endof a first shelf toward a second shelf, the first and second shelvesbeing adjacent to one another. A second fin may extend from the secondfree end of the second shelf toward the first shelf, the first andsecond fins defining an opening therebetween. The first fin may extendsubstantially orthogonally from the first shelf. The cable guide mayfurther include a strap fastener configured to be coupled to one of theplurality of shelves, the strap fastener having a first free end and asecond free end releasably attachable to the first free end. The firstfree end of the strap fastener may be configured to be coupled to theone shelf with a bolt or rivet extending through a first aperture in thestrap and a second corresponding aperture in the one shelf. The firstfree end of the strap fastener may include one of hooks and loops andthe second free end of the strap fastener may include the other of thehooks and loops.

A plurality of the trays may be arranged in a stacked configuration, apair of adjacent trays of the plurality of trays being spaced apart by afirst distance, and a pair of adjacent shelves being spaced apart by asecond distance substantially equal to the first distance. When thesystem is in a state in which a first cable is connected at one end toone of the ports and supported by the cable guide at a portion of thefirst cable a predetermined length of the first cable from the one end,the first cable has a first slack when the tray is in the firstposition, a second slack when the tray is in the second position, and athird slack when the tray is in a third position intermediate the firstand second positions, the third slack being greater than the first slackand the second slack. The tray may be adapted to slide a first distancein a first direction from the first position to the second position,wherein the cable guide is positioned a second distance in the firstdirection from the front faces of the plurality of ports when the trayis in the first position, the first distance being less than double thesecond distance. The tray may be a head of a cassette and the housingmay be a housing of the cassette, the tray including at least two railsadapted to slide into and out of corresponding rail slots defined by thecassette housing. The system may also include a chassis adapted toretain a plurality of cassettes. The cable guide may be fixed to thechassis or to the housing of one of the plurality of cassettes.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, a communication systemincludes a housing, a tray, and a cable guide. The tray has a pluralityof ports each having a front face connectable to a cable, the traymovably engaged with the housing and having a first positionsubstantially inside the housing and a second position substantiallyoutside the housing. The cable guide has a fixed position with respectto the housing and is for supporting at least one of the plurality ofcables, the cable guide having a fixed position with respect to thehousing. When the system is in a state in which a first cable isconnected at one end to one of the ports and supported by the cableguide at a portion of the first cable a predetermined length of thefirst cable from the one end, the first cable has a first slack when thetray is in the first position, a second slack when the tray is in thesecond position, and a third slack when the tray is in a third positionintermediate the first and second positions, the third slack beinggreater than the first slack and the second slack. The cable guide mayinclude a mounting arm configured for fixing to the housing. The cableguide may include a shelving unit adapted to removably couple to themounting arm.

According to still another embodiment of the disclosure, a communicationsystem includes an outer housing having first and second side walls, andan inner housing at least partially positioned within the outer housing,the inner housing having first and second side walls and configured toreceive a plurality of patch panel devices therein in a stackedarrangement. A hanger plate assembly including a first hanger plate ishingedly coupled to the first side wall of the inner housing and aplurality of hangers is connected to the first hanger plate in a stackedarrangement, each hanger adapted to support a cable thereon. The hangerplate assembly has a stored condition in which the hanger plate assemblyis fully positioned within the outer housing, and a pulled out conditionin which the hanger plate assembly is at least partially positionedoutside the outer housing. The inner housing may include a plurality ofslots, each slot configured to receive one of the patch panel devicestherein, the hanger plate assembly including a number of hangers equalto or greater than a number of patch panel devices received in theplurality of slots. The first hanger plate may be a rigid substantiallyrectangular plate. Each hanger may include a flat portion with a cableguide surface extending away from the flat portion, the cable guidesurface having a curvature defining a minimum bending radius. Acylindrical member may be coupled to the plurality of hangers, a portionof the cylindrical member defining the cable guide surface of eachhanger. Each pair of adjacent hangers of the plurality of hangers mayinclude a first retaining member extending from the flat portion of afirst of the pair of hangers toward the flat portion of a second of thepair of hangers, and a second retaining member may extend from the flatportion of the second of the pair of hangers toward the flat portion ofthe first of the pair of hangers. The first and second retaining membersmay each be substantially cylindrical. A free end of the first retainingmember may be spaced apart from the flat portion of the second of thepair of hangers, and a free end of the second retaining member is spacedapart from the flat portion of the first of the pair of hangers.

A distance between the first side wall of the inner housing and thefirst side wall of the outer housing may be greater than a width of thefirst hanger plate. The hanger plate assembly may include a plurality ofadditional hanger plates hingedly coupled to one another, one of theadditional hanger plates being hingedly coupled to the first hangerplate. Each of the additional hanger plates may have a width, a sum ofthe width of each of the additional hanger plates and the first hangerplate being greater than the distance between the first side wall of theinner housing and the first side wall of the outer housing. In a storedcondition, the first hanger plate and the additional hanger plates mayall positioned within the outer housing. One of the additional hangerplates may be positioned at a terminal end of the hanger plate assemblyand may include an end portion defining a “U”-shaped channel, the endportion extending substantially entirely along a height of the oneadditional hanger plate. The first hanger plate and the plurality ofadditional hanger plates may all have substantially equal heights. Atleast one of the additional hanger plates may include a cable retainingmember forming at least one “U”-shaped channel extending along a widthof the one additional hanger plate. The at least one “U”-shaped channelof the cable retaining member may be at least partially defined by an“L”-shaped extension. The communication system may also include a secondhanger plate assembly including a first hanger plate hingedly coupled tothe second side wall of the inner housing and a plurality of hangersconnected to the second hanger plate in a stacked arrangement.

According to still a further aspect of the disclosure; a hanger plateassembly includes a first hanger plate and a plurality of hangersconnected to the first hanger plate in a stacked arrangement. The firsthanger plate is configured to be hingedly coupled to a first side wallof an inner housing of a communication system adapted to receive aplurality of patch panel devices therein in a stacked arrangement. Theplurality of hangers is adapted to support a cable thereon. The hangerplate assembly is configured to have a stored condition in which thehanger plate assembly is fully positioned within an outer housing of thecommunication system, and a pulled out condition in which the hangerplate assembly is configured to be at least partially positioned outsidethe outer housing. The first hanger plate may have a rigid substantiallyrectangular plate. Each hanger may include a flat portion with a cableguide surface extending away from the flat portion, the cable guidesurface having a curvature defining a minimum bending radius.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

By way of description only, embodiments of the present disclosure willbe described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1A is a front perspective view of a communication patching systemincluding multiple patch panel devices shown in a first state;

FIG. 1B is the communication patching system of FIG. 1A shown in asecond state;

FIG. 1C is a front perspective view of a housing and cable trough,without a patch panel device placed therein;

FIG. 2A is one of the patch panel devices of FIG. 1A shown in a firststate;

FIG. 2B is the patch panel device of FIG. 2A shown in a second state;

FIG. 2C is an enlarged view of the indicated area of FIG. 2B;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of another embodiment of a patch paneldevice including a plurality of attachment members;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the patch panel device of FIG. 3A inwhich cables have been separated from one of the attachment members;

FIG. 3C is a perspective view of one of the attachment members of FIG.3A shown in a first condition;

FIG. 3D is a perspective view of one of the attachment members of FIG.3A shown in a second condition;

FIGS. 4A-C are top cutaway views of a cable management system having acable guide in different states of operation;

FIG. 4D is a perspective view of the cable management system of FIGS.4A-C;

FIG. 5A is an enlarged perspective view of the cable guide of FIGS.4A-C;

FIG. 5B is an enlarged perspective disassembled view of the cable guideof FIGS. 4A-C;

FIG. 5C is a top view of a portion of the cable guide of FIGS. 4A-C;

FIG. 5D is a rear perspective view of a portion of the cable guide ofFIGS. 4A-C;

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a portion of the cable guide of FIGS.4A-C with cable retaining features;

FIG. 6B is a cross-section of a portion of the cable guide of FIGS. 4A-Cwith alternative cable retaining features;

FIG. 6C-D are top and perspective views, respectively, of an alternateembodiment of the cable guide of FIGS. 5C-D;

FIG. 6E is a cross-section of a portion of the cable guide of FIG. 6D atline E-E in an exemplary installed state;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cable management system of FIGS.4A-C showing additional cable routing features;

FIG. 8A is an exploded view of a cassette for use in a cable managementsystem;

FIG. 8B is a perspective view of the cassette of FIG. 8A in a firststate;

FIG. 8C is a perspective view of the cassette of FIG. 8B in a secondstate;

FIG. 8D is a cross-section of a portion of the cassette of FIG. 8A atline 8-8 indicated on FIG. 8B;

FIG. 8E is a cross-section of the portion of the cassette shown in FIG.8D with an insert component provided therein;

FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a chassis for use with cassettes suchas that shown in FIG. 8A;

FIG. 9B is a perspective view of the chassis of FIG. 9A with cassettespositioned therein;

FIGS. 10A-B are perspective and top views, respectively, of a patchpanel system with a hanger plate assembly in a stored condition;

FIG. 10C is a top view of the hanger plate assembly of FIG. 10A;

FIG. 10D is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the hangerplate assembly of FIG. 10A;

FIGS. 10E-F are perspective and top views, respectively, of the patchpanel system of FIG. 10A with the hanger plate assembly in anintermediate position;

FIGS. 10G-H are perspective and top views, respectively, of the patchpanel system of FIG. 10A with the hanger plate assembly in a pulled outcondition;

FIGS. 10I-J are top views of the patch panel system of FIG. 10Aillustrating an exemplary installed configuration of components of thesystem;

FIGS. 11A-B are perspective and top views, respectively, of a patchpanel system with a hanger plate assembly in a stored conditionaccording to an alternate embodiment;

FIG. 11C is a top view of the hanger plate assembly of FIG. 11A in astored condition;

FIG. 11D is a perspective view of the hanger plate assembly of FIG. 11Ain a pulled out condition;

FIGS. 11E-F are top and perspective views, respectively, of the patchpanel system of FIG. 11A with the hanger plate assembly in a transitionposition;

FIGS. 11G-H are top and perspective views, respectively, of the patchpanel system of FIG. 11A with the hanger plate assembly in a pulled outcondition; and

FIG. 12 is perspective view of an alternate patch panel system with twohanger plate assemblies in a pulled out condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Particular embodiments of the present disclosure are described withreference to the accompanying drawings. In the figures and in thedescription that follow, in which like reference numerals identifysimilar or identical elements, the term “proximal” refers to the end ofthe device that is closest to the operator or user during use, while theterm “distal” refers to the end of the device that is farther from theoperator or user during use.

Now referring to FIGS. 1A-C, a communication patching system 100 mayinclude a housing 2, e.g., a rack or a cabinet. The housing 2 may definea length L, a height H, and a width W₁. The housing 2 may support one ormore patch panel devices 110, with each device 110 held in verticalalignment with a guide rail 2 b (FIG. 1C), a plurality of which may alsobe disposed in vertical alignment along at least one side of the housing2. A cable trough 4 may be positioned adjacent to the housing 2, forexample at a proximal corner, a distal corner, or intermediate theproximal and distal corners. The cable trough 4, which may be attachedto the frame of the system 100 (which may include, e.g., poles, walls,and other supports), may be configured to receive therein a plurality ofcables C extending vertically therethrough. The cable trough 4 may takeany suitable form to house and guide cables including, for example, aplurality of guide rings, a groove or other hollow passageway.

Each patch panel device 110 may include a plurality of adapters or ports7, each port 7 having a receptacle 5 for securing a cable C (FIG. 1B)therein. The receptacle 5 of the port 7 may be operatively coupled toone or more cables C, e.g., the receptacle 5 may be in a simplex or in aduplex configuration. The port 7 may include a mounting portion 51 thatframes the port 7 and facilitates securing of the port 7, or thereceptacle 5, to connection means, e.g., rails 41, 43 (FIG. 2C). In someembodiments, the mounting portion 51 of the port 7 may be integrallyformed with the port 7 or may be a separate component coupled to thereceptacle 5, and in some embodiments the mounting portion 51 may form apart of a connection means to which the receptacle 5 is connected, asdescribed below.

The patch panel device 110 may include a tab 11 on either end of thepatch panel device 110 to facilitate a user grasping or handling of thepatch panel device 110. The density of the number of ports 7 supportedby the housing 2 may be a function of the dimensions of the housing 2.As shown in FIG. 1A, the ports 7, each of which has a width x and aheight y, may be arranged in rows and columns in which the number ofrows of ports 7 is directly correlated to the height H and the number ofcolumns of ports 7 is directly correlated to the width W₁.

The communication patching system 100 may be transitionable between afirst state (FIG. 1A) and a second state (FIG. 1B). In the first state,the one or more patch panel devices 110 may be positioned at a firstlocation with respect to the proximal end or face P of the housing 2. Asshown in FIG. 1A, the patch panel devices 110 may be substantially flushwith respect to the face P of the housing 2. In the second state, one ormore of the patch panel devices 110 may be disposed proximally in thedirection of arrow Z away from the proximal end or face P of the housing2. As the patch panel device 110 is moved proximally, the ports 7 may betransitioned to be spaced apart from one another by a gap or spacingdistance d (FIG. 1B).

The patch panel device 110 may be transitionable between first andsecond states, as shown best in FIGS. 2A and 2B respectively. The patchpanel device 110 may include bars 19, which facilitate mounting of thepatch panel device within the housing 2 by securing one of the bars 19on each of opposite sides 2 a of the housing 2. A hinged arm member 114,which includes a first arm section 21 and a second arm section 31, maybe slidably connected to the bar 19. The first arm section 21 mayinclude a slot 25 which is configured and adapted to receive a pin 27therethrough. The pin 27 may secure the first arm section 21 to the bar19 while permitting the first arm section 21 to slide relative to thebar 19 along the length of slot 25. The first arm section 21 and thesecond arm section 31 of the hinged arm 114 may be pivotably connectedto one another by a hinge 33, thereby facilitating the rotation of thesecond arm section 31 relative to the first arm section 21.

The ports 7 may be operably coupled to a connection means 16. As theconnection means 16 transitions from a first length equal to width W₁(FIG. 2A) to a second, expanded width W₂ (FIG. 2B), the ports 7 maymove, or be moveable, to be positioned in a spaced apart relation. In anembodiment, the ports 7 are spaced apart. The ports 7 may beequidistantly spaced apart by equal gaps or spacing distances d.However, the spacing distances d between adjacent ports 7 may differ,i.e., be non-uniform, in the second state. In addition, individual ports7 may be slid or moved along the length of the connection means 16,thereby facilitating adjustment of the gap or spacing distances dbetween adjacent ports 7 as desired by a user.

It is contemplated that the hinged arm member 114 may include a lip (notshown) that interacts with a groove (not shown) defined within the bar19 along a portion or substantially the entire length of the bar 19 toprovide added stability and controlled movement of the hinged arm member114 relative to the bar 19.

As shown best in FIG. 2C, the connection means 16 may include one ormore telescopic rails 41, 43 that are slidable to adjust the overalllength of the connection means 16. Although shown in FIG. 2C as havingtwo parallel rails 41, 43, a single rail may be used. It should be notedthat the greater the overall length of the connection means 16, thegreater the gap or spacing distance d achievable between adjacent ports7. Each of the parallel rails 41, 43 may include alternating sections 41a, 41 b and 43 a, 43 b respectively. Sections 41 a, 43 a may beconfigured and adapted to slide within sections 41 b, 43 b respectively,where the ports 7 may be coupled to the sections 41 b, 43 b, to effectlengthening or shortening of the connections means 16. A resilient orbiasing member (not shown) may be placed within a hollowed out center ofeach of the rails 41, 43 to bias the connection means 16 to one of thefirst or second dimensions W₁, W₂, respectively.

The sections 41 b, 43 b may define an open circumference such that theports 7 will not obstruct movement of the alternating sections 41 a, 41b and 43 a, 43 b relative to one another such that the ports 7 may bemoved in closer proximity to one another. In addition, the lengths ofthe alternating sections 41 a, 41 b and 43 a, 43 b may be selected tofacilitate placement of the ports 7 in close proximity to one another,such that adjacent ports contact each other. Each port 7 may be securedto the rails 41, 43 in a variety of ways or may be integrally formedwith the rails 41, 43. It is contemplated that in other embodiments, therails 41, 43 may be substituted with different connection means. In anembodiment, the rails 41, 43 may be substituted with elastic bands. Avariety of other configurations may be used to effect lateral, angular,or other spacing between ports in a patch panel device to increaseaccess to the ports, such as those described in greater detail in U.S.Patent Publication Nos. 2014/0355217, 2014/0357118, and 2014/0354131,the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

For example, another embodiment of a patch panel device is describedwith reference to FIGS. 3A-3D. A patch panel device 210 may include aplurality of attachment members 232 that are positioned adjacent to oneanother. Each attachment member 232 may include a movable member 246,which is rotatable or pivotable relative to a movable member of anotherattachment member 232. The movable members 246 of adjacent members 232may be operatively coupled to one another to permit rotation of one ofthe movable members 246 relative to the other movable member. In anembodiment, the movable members 246 may be coupled to one another in asnap-fit connection that permits radial movement of the movable members246 relative to one another. At least two securement members 244 may besecured to opposing ends of the plurality of attachment members 232 andsecure the attachment members 232 to a tray 231. In another embodiment,a securement member 244 may be positioned between each of the movablemembers 246. Each of the movable members 246 may be operatively coupledto one or more cables C1, which are shown only in part. The movablemember 246 may include a cable adapter or connector 249, which mayinclude a front surface 249 a that may be operatively coupled to onecable C1 and a back surface 249 b that may be operatively coupled toanother cable C1. The movable member 246 may include a receptacle 247 inwhich the connector 249 may be releasably secured such that theconnector 249 may be separated from the attachment member 232.

The movable members 246 may be positioned spaced a distance from an edge231 a of the tray 231 to permit the movable members 246 to rotaterelative to the tray 231. In one embodiment, the tray 231 may include acut-out (not shown) at the movable members 246 to facilitate a range ofmovement of the movable members 246 relative to the tray 231. The tray231 may have an axis z extending along its length, an axis y extendingalong its height, and an axis x extending its width. The securementmember 244 may be coaxially aligned with the axis z extending along thelength of the tray 231. A plurality of securement members 244 may bepositioned in a row extending along axis x along the width of the tray231.

As shown in FIGS. 3C-3D, the securement member 244 and a movable member246 of the attachment member 232 may be pivotably connected to oneanother at a pivot point 248 such that the movable member 246 may beradially moved relative to the securement member 244 to define an angleG therebetween. In particular, the movable member 246 may radially pivotbetween the y and z axes and the angle G may be defined therebetween.When secured to the tray 231, the movable member 246 may pivot in acounter-clockwise direction T, but may be inhibited from pivoting in theopposite, clockwise direction by the tray 231. However, as discussedabove, cut-outs in the tray 231 may reduce the interaction between thetray 231 and the movable member 246 to facilitate a greater range ofmovement of the movable member 246 with respect to the tray 231. In anembodiment, the angle G may be adjusted within a range between about 0and about 135 degrees. In another embodiment, the angle G may beadjusted within a range between about 0 and about 90 degrees. Forexample, in one embodiment, the movable members 246 may be movablerelative to one another to transition the patch panel device 210 betweena first condition in which front surfaces 251 of the movable members 246are substantially coplanar, and adjacent ones of the members 246 arespaced apart a first distance or contact each other, and a secondcondition in which the front surfaces 251 of respective adjacent members246 are in different planes in accordance with the angle G that one ofthe adjacent members 246 is pivoted or rotated relative to the otheradjacent members 246, where the other member 246 may or may not be atthe same position as in the first condition.

A plurality of patch panel devices 210 may also be supported withinhousing 2 (see FIGS. 1A-C), and may be translatable into or out from thehousing 2 in a direction along axis z. Once spaced apart from thehousing 2, the movable member 246 may be pivoted with respect to thesecurement member 244, thereby spacing the surfaces 249 a, 249 b of theconnector 249 from any adjacent connector 249 such that the cables C1may be more accessible and readily grasped by a user to detach the cableC1 from the cable adapter or connector 249 of the movable member 246 (asshown in FIG. 3B).

As noted above in connection with FIGS. 1A-C, a number of cables C maybe coupled to ports 7 of a particular patch panel device, with thecables C extending vertically through cable trough 4. A number ofsystems for routing and managing cables C of patch panel systems aredescribed below.

One embodiment of a cable management system 300 is shown in FIGS. 4A-D.Cable management system 300, as well as other embodiments of cablemanagements systems described herein, may be used with any suitablepatch panel device, including suitable devices described herein andsuitable devices described in U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2014/0355217,2014/0357118, and 2014/0354131, the disclosures of which are herebyincorporated by reference herein. Cable management system 300 isillustrated in FIGS. 4A-D as being used with a patch panel device 310similar to patch panel device 210, with certain differences described ingreater detail below. The cable management system 300 may include one ormore cable guides 400 having a fixed position in relation to housing 2.In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4A-D, cable management system 300includes cable guides 400 mounted to each side of housing 2, althoughany configuration in which one or more cable guides 400 have a fixedposition relative to housing 2 may be suitable. Cables C may be routedfrom ports 7, through or via cable guide 400, and to cable trough 4 (orany other suitable cable destination) so that as a tray 331 to whichports 7 are attached is pulled out of housing 2, a suitable amount ofslack is maintained in cables C at different positions of tray 331.Prior to describing the function of cable guides 400 in more detail, thestructure of an exemplary cable guide 400 is described in connectionwith FIGS. 5A-D.

FIG. 5A shows an enlarged partial view of a lateral side of cablemanagement system 300. In particular, three trays 331 carrying ports 7within housing 2 are shown adjacent cable guide 400. In the illustratedembodiment, cable guide 400 includes a mounting 410 fixedly mounted tohousing 2. In addition, the cable guide may include a shelving unithaving a plurality of shelves 420 positioned at a front end portion ofcable guide 400. Shelves 420 may include substantially flat top andbottom surfaces, although other configurations which allow cables C torest upon the shelves 420 may be suitable. In one embodiment, cableguide 400 may include a pair of adjacent shelves 420 for each tray 331connected to cables C, each adjacent pair of shelves 420 being spacedapart by a vertical distance substantially similar to the verticaldistance between adjacent trays 331. Each adjacent pair of shelves 420may be substantially open at a front portion and side portions, andconnected, or otherwise bounded by, a rear or distal surface 422. Eachdistal surface 422 may be rounded, preferably with a convex curvature,so that a cable C extending along the surface 422 has a desired minimumbending radius along the surface.

As shown in FIG. 5B, mounting arm 410 may include a bracket 412 with aplurality of apertures 414 for coupling to a device such as cable trough4, or for mounting to a chassis assembly or other components that may beused in conjunction with cable management system 300. Bracket 412 mayalso include fasteners 416, such as bolts or pins, extending proximallyfrom the bracket 412 to facilitate coupling the shelving unit tomounting arm 410. For example, one or more of surfaces 422 betweenadjacent shelves 420 may include apertures 426, best shown in FIG. 5D,shaped to mate with fasteners 416 so that the shelving unit may bequickly and securely coupled to bracket 412. One or more of the shelves420 may include an aperture 428 (see FIG. 5C) extending therethrough forcoupling accessories, such as hook and loop fasteners, to the shelf 420.Examples of these accessories are described in greater detail below inconnection with FIG. 6B. It should be noted that although mounting arm410 and shelves 420 are illustrated as separate components, thecomponents may be provided as an integral unit. Similarly, althoughthree pairs of adjacent shelves 420 in connection with mounting arm 410,larger or smaller mounting arms may be provided to support a greater orfewer number of pairs of shelves 420. Still further, depending on thenumber of trays 331 in cable management system 300, as many cable guides400 as desired may be stacked vertically to provide suitable guidancefor sets of cables C connected to each tray 331.

Referring back to FIGS. 4A-D, the use of cable guide 400 in combinationwith cable management system 300 is described in greater detail. FIG. 4Aillustrates a top cutaway view of cable management system 300, includinga housing 2 having a first plurality of trays 331 stacked verticallyadjacent a second plurality of trays 331 stacked vertically (only onetray 331 from each group visible in FIG. 4A). The trays 331 are shown inFIG. 4A in an installed or stored position in which the trays 331 arefully or substantially fully positioned within housing 2. The trays 331are slidable with respect to housing 2 so that, when in a pulled outcondition, as shown in the right tray 331 in FIG. 4B, the ports 7 aremore easily accessible to a user. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4A-D,the ports 7 are pivotally connected to tray 331 at a rear portion of theport 7 so that the ports 7 may swing side-to-side with respect to oneanother (see FIG. 4C) to create additional space when the tray is in thepulled out position. One set of cables C is connected to front orproximal ends of ports 7 and routed through cable guide 400 into cabletrough 4. Patch panel systems having pivoting ports are described ingreater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 8,939,792, the disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference herein.

Each port 7 may include a front cable C coupled to the front end and arear cable C coupled to the rear end. In the embodiment shown in FIGS.4A-D, a front set of cables is coupled to the proximal end of ports 7and passed through cable guide 400 and into cable trough 4. A rear setof cables C is coupled to the distal end of ports 7 and passed into arear portion of housing 2. These rear cables C may be connected toelectronic components in a module in the rear of housing 2, to aconnector in the rear wall of housing 2 that provides a connection toother cables outside the housing, or they may be passed through anopening in the back of housing 2. In other embodiments, the rear cablesC may pass through the front of housing 2, through cable guide 400 andinto cable trough 4 (or other suitable destination), similar to thefront cables C.

Generally, when cables are attached to ports on a sliding tray in apatch panel communication type system, cable management may becomedifficult. For example, for cables coupled to a front of a set of ports,as the tray is moved from the stored position to a pulled out position,slack in the front cables increases from a minimum to a maximum. Whenthe tray is at a position in which the cables have a maximum slack, ifthere is too much slack, the likelihood that the cables get caught on orotherwise interfere with components of the system may be increased.Further, too much slack may make it more difficult to manipulate thecables when the tray is in the pulled out position. Too little slack mayalso complicate the ability to manipulate the cables, for example bylimiting the ability of ports to move away from one another, and mayotherwise increase the risk of detrimental stresses being placed on thecables. As is described in greater detail below, cable management system300, in combination with cable guide 400, may provide cable management,including slack management, in a simple and effective fashion.

As shown in FIGS. 4B-C, ports 7 have a maximum slidable distance in theZ direction of D1, representing the distance between the storedposition, represented by the left tray 331 in FIG. 4B, and the pulledout position, represented by the right tray 331 in FIG. 4B. The shelves420 of cable guide 400 are positioned lateral to the lateral-most port7. In addition, shelves 420 may be positioned a distance D2 in the Zdirection from the proximal end of ports 7 when tray 331 is in thestored position, and a distance D3 in the Z direction from the proximalend of ports 7 when tray 331 is in the pulled out position. In theillustrated system 300, the distance D2 is greater than the distance D3,with the sum of distances D2 and D3 being equal to the distance D1. Withthis configuration, front cables C may be managed in the system 300where the front cables C are connected at one end C1 to a front of theports 7, and each of the front cables is supported by the cable guide atthe shelves 420 at a portion of the front cable a predetermined lengthof the front cable from the one end C1. In such cable connectionarrangement, the slack in front cables C increases as tray 331 is pulledout until the tray 331 travels the distance D2, where the proximal endsof ports 7 are transversely aligned with shelves 420. At this point, theslack in the cables is at a maximum, as the cables remain supported atthe cable guide at the portions that are respectively predeterminedlengths from the ends C1. As a user continues to pull tray 331 furtherproximally to the completely retracted position represented by the righttray 331 in FIG. 4B, the slack begins to decrease as the cables becometauter, the cables again remain supported at the cable guide at theportions that are respectively predetermined lengths from the ends C1.It should be understood that in other examples, the cable guide 400 maybe positioned a different distance in the Z direction. For example, theshelves 420 of the cable guide 400 may be positioned proximal to thefront face of ports 7 when the tray 331 is in the stored position aswell as in the pulled out position.

In the configuration illustrated in FIGS. 4A-D, there is more slack infront cables C when the tray 331 is in the pulled out position than whenthe tray 331 is in the stored position. When tray 331 is in the storedposition, front cables C are generally not manipulated since the ports 7are within, or flush with the front of, housing 2. Because the frontcables C are generally not manipulated when the tray 331 is in thestored position, the front cables C can be relatively taut to helpmaintain the cables C in an organized fashion. On the other hand, if auser intends to manipulate front cables C, he or she may generallytransition tray 331 into the pulled out position. Further, when in thepulled out position, the ports 7 are capable of moving laterally apart(or vertically apart in a system similar to the patch panel device 210of FIG. 3A) with respect to one another to provide the user betteraccess to the ports 7, as shown in FIG. 4C. For these reasons, it isdesirable for at least some slack to remain in the front cables C whenthe tray 331 is in the pulled out condition. However, the slack isdesirably the minimum amount to allow for the motion of ports 7 andmanipulation of front cables C. Thus, it is desirable that the slack inthe front cables C is not at a maximum when in the tray 331 is in thepulled out position. It is noted that in the pulled out position of thetray, when one of the ports 7 is manipulated from a normal position suchas shown on the left tray of FIG. 4B, the one front cable C connectedthereto may move such that the portion of the one front cable C is notpositioned at, and therefore not supported by, the cable guide. However,when the port 7 is returned to a normal position, the portion of the onefront cable C connected thereto may return to a state at which theportion of the one front cable C is positioned at, and supported by, thecable guide. Each of the conditions described above is met with thecable management system 300 and cable guides 400 illustrated in FIGS.4A-C. It should further be understood that effective cable managementmay still be provided when the cable guide 400 is positioneddifferently. For example, even if the shelves 420 of cable guide 400 arepositioned proximal to the front face of ports 7 in all positions oftray 331, slack management and cable organization may be provided in aneffective and relatively simple fashion. With that configuration, cablesC may have maximum slack when tray 331 is in the pulled out position,which maximum slack is desirably enough to manipulate cables C at ports7, with the slack reducing as tray 331 is pushed into the storedposition. The configuration described in connection with FIGS. 4A-D mayalso help limit or eliminate movement of the cables C within the cabletrough 4, and also between cable guide 400 and the cable trough 4,during movement of the tray 331.

In order to achieve the benefits described above, it is desirable thatcables C passing over a surface of a shelf 420 of cable guide 400 remainpositioned on or at the shelf 420 and/or within the boundaries ofadjacent shelves 420, when the position of the tray is switched amongthe completely retracted, pulled out and stored positions and there isno user manipulation of the ports or the front cables. One way to helpachieve this result is by adding one or more features to cable guide 400to provide vertical limits on the movement of cables C and/orconstraints on the ability of the cables C to otherwise move. Thefeatures described below may also help to further limit or eliminatemovement of the cables C within the cable guide 400, as well as to limitor eliminate movement of the cables C in the cable trough 4 or atpositions between the cable guide 400 and the cable trough 4.

One structure that may aid in maintaining the cables C within adjacentshelves are the fins 430 illustrated in FIG. 6A. In the illustratedembodiment, one or more fins 430 are positioned on a free end of eachshelf 420. In particular, a first shelf 420 may include a fin 430 on afree end extending substantially perpendicular to the surface of thefirst shelf toward a second adjacent shelf. Similarly, the secondadjacent shelf 420 may include a fin 430 on a free end extendingsubstantially perpendicular to the surface of the second shelf towardthe first shelf. In this embodiment, fins 430 are substantially rigid,although using deflectable fins may be suitable, as described in greaterdetail below. The fins 430 may not extend completely toward the adjacentshelf 420, and the fins that extend toward one another are offset sothat an opening 432 is defined between the fins 430. With thisconfiguration, cables C may be relatively easily inserted into, orremoved through, the space between adjacent shelves 420 through theopening 432 if a user desires to install or remove a cable C from thesystem. However, the opening 432 is preferably small enough and orientedwith respect to cables C so that, during normal operation of the cablemanagement system 300, the cables C are unlikely to pass through opening432 unintentionally.

Although two fins 430 are shown in each space between adjacent shelves420, other configurations may be suitable. For example, a single fin mayextend nearly all the way to the adjacent shelf 420, with a smallopening or slot being defined between the end of the fin and theadjacent shelf 420. Still further, a single fin 430 could extend totouch the adjacent shelf 420 with the fin being deflectable so that auser could push a cable C toward the fin, causing the fin to deflectinward until the cable C passes into the space between adjacent shelves420. Once the cable C is positioned between the adjacent shelves 420,the fin would return to its original position extending from a firstshelf and touching the adjacent shelf, isolating the cable C between theadjacent shelves 420. The deflectable fin may have enough stiffness suchthat cables C would be unlikely to apply enough force to the fin duringnormal operation of the cable management system 300 to cause significantdeflection of the fin. Still other variations may be suitable, such astwo fins 430 extending toward one another from adjacent shelves 420 sothat the fins touch, but the fins being deflectable so that a cable Cmay be pushed toward the fins causing them to deflect to allow the cableC to pass beyond the fins.

FIG. 6B shows a cross-section of the shelves 420 of the shelving unit ofcable guide 400 with additional components to help secure cables Cbetween adjacent shelves 420. Shelves 420 may be the same as thosedescribed above, with or without fins 430. A fastening device, such as ahook and loop strap 434, may be provided for each shelf 420 that is tosupport cables C. Hook and loop strap 434 may be, for example, a deviceprovided under the trade name VELCRO, but other type of fastening strapsmay be suitable, for example straps having snap closures, hook closures,adhesive closures, etc. A first free end of fastener 434 may include anaperture that may align with aperture 428 in a shelf 420, with afastener such as a rivet or bolt 436 coupling the first free end offastener 434 to shelf 420. Cables C may be inserted between adjacentshelves 420, with free ends of fastener 434 wrapping around the cablesC. With the cables C in a desired position, the second free end offastener 434 may be coupled to the first free end, for example via ahook and loop mating system. With this configuration, rivet or bolt 436keeps the fastener 434 in a desired position, with the fastener 434keeping cables C secure between adjacent shelves 420. It should be notedthat, in FIG. 6B, two groups of cables C are shown, each group of cablesC positioned within a sleeve to help further organize the cables. Twogroups of cables C may pass through a single pair of adjacent shelveswhen, for example, the sets of front cables C and rear cables C both arerouted through the front of the housing 2.

FIGS. 6C-D show views of a modified cable guide 400′ that is identicalto cable guide 400 with the exception of the features noted below. Cableguide 400′ may include an identical mounting arm 410 for mounting tohousing 2. In addition, cable guide 400′ may include a shelving unithaving a plurality of shelves 420′ arranged in a stack configuration.Shelves 420′ may include substantially flat top and bottom surfaces of agenerally similar shape to shelves 420, and be connected by roundedsurface 422. However, unlike shelves 420, a recess 421′ may be formed inthe proximal end of each shelf 420. In the illustrated embodiment, eachrecess 421′ is generally “U”-shaped, although other shapes includingrectangular may be suitable. For each unit of shelves 420′, shelf 420 e′at one end of the stack may include an aperture 428. The aperture 428may be configured to receive a bolt or other device to couple a firstelement of a fastening device to the shelf 420 e′, and a second elementof a fastening device may be coupled to the top surface of 420 f′, whichis at the other end of the stack. With this configuration, as explainedin greater detail below in connection with FIG. 6E, a single fasteningdevice may be used to secure cables C between each pair of shelves 420′in the unit, rather than having a separate fastener dedicated to eachpair of adjacent shelves 420′.

FIG. 6E shows a cross-section of the unit of shelves 420′. In theillustrated embodiment, the first element of the fastening device maytake the form of a first strap 434 a′ that is bolted or otherwise fixedto a top surface of the shelf 420 f′. An end portion of the first strap434 a′ may include a closure mechanism, such as hooks or loops of thetype provided under the trade name VELCRO. The first strap 434 a′ may belong enough to extend at least a length of the shelving unit from theshelf 420 e′ to the shelf 420 f′, preferably may be positioned in thespace formed by the recess 421′ in each shelf 420′, and desirably hasenough additional length so that the closure mechanism may extend atleast some distance over the top surface of the shelf 420 e′. The secondelement of the fastening device may take the form of a second strap 434b′. In the illustrated example, the second strap 434 b′ may have arelatively short length and may be fixed to the top surface of the shelf420 e′ so that the second strap 434 b′ does not have any significantfreedom of movement. The second strap 434 b′ may include a closuremechanism that corresponds to the closure mechanism at the end of thefirst strap 434 a′, which may be hooks (if first strap 434 a′ includesloops) or loops (if first strap 434 a′ includes hooks). It should beunderstood that the corresponding closure mechanisms of the first strap434 a′ and the second strap 434 b′ may take other forms, such as snaps,hooks, adhesives, buckles, etc. With the above-described configuration,a user is able to secure all of the cables C housed within a shelvingunit with a single motion. In other words, with the cables C positionedbetween the desired pairs of adjacent shelves 420′, the user may graspthe first strap 434 a′ and couple the closure mechanism at the end ofthe first strap 434 a′ to the second strap, making sure to guide theintermediate portion of the first strap 434 a′ into the recess 421′ ofeach shelf 420′. It should be noted that the number of shelves 420′within a given shelving unit may be altered as desired, with the lengthof the first strap 434 a′ depending mainly on the total end to endlength of the shelving unit. It should further be understood that one ofthe end shelves in the shelving unit does not necessarily need toinclude a recess 421′, and may rather take a shape similar to othershelves 420′ in the shelving unit without such a recess. In addition toproviding a simple and fast mechanism for securing cables C within theshelving unit, the configuration described in connection with FIGS. 6C-Emay maximize the amount of space available for cables C between eachpair of shelves 420 a′. One additional benefit of this configuration isthat, if cables C are positioned anywhere along the length of the recess421′, first strap 434 a′ may be able to make contact with those cables Cto secure those cables C in place. So, even if a volume of cables C ispositioned so that the cables C extend to a portion of recess 421′,additional cables C may be added within the space between the twoadjacent shelves 420′ with the first strap 434 a′ being able to securethe cables C between the shelves 420′.

FIG. 7 illustrates additional features which may help organize cables Cof cable management system 300. In FIG. 7, one tray 331 on the rightside is shown in the pulled out position, with one set of front cables Cpassing through cable guide 400, and a set of rear cables C passingrearward into the housing 2. Generally, it is desirable for the frontcables C to pass laterally along a path prior to passing through thecable guide 400. In order to facilitate such routing, a handle member350 may be provided on tray 331, the handle member extending proximallyof the housing 2. The handle member 350 may take any suitable form thatacts as a guide for cables C. For example, as illustrated, handle member350 may include a substantially flat bottom surface which curves upwardat the front end to provide surfaces against which cables C may bepositioned. Additional surfaces may be provided on handle member 350,and desirably the surfaces include at least a bottom surface and frontsurface. Handle member 350 may provide the additional function ofproviding a user a convenient gripping member for pulling tray 331 outof the housing 2 or pushing tray 331 back into the housing. A lateralguide member 360 may also be provided at a lateral-most end of tray 331to provide additional guidance to the cables C as they extend laterallyaway from tray 331. As illustrated, lateral guide member 360 has aconvex cable contacting surface, although other shaped surfaces may besuitable. Additional guide members, such as rear guide member 370, maybe provided on tray 331 to facilitate maintaining the rear cables in adesired position. The handle member 350 and/or guide members 360, 370may also provide locking functionality. For example, when tray 331 is inthe stored position, it may be desirable to maintain the tray 331 in alocked or semi-locked state so that intentional pulling force must beapplied to tray 331 in order to begin transitioning the tray 331 intothe pulled out position. This locking functionality may be provided, forexample, by including detents or other cooperating structures in thehousing 2 or adjacent trays 331 so that, when the tray 331 is in thestored position, one or more of the handle member 350 and guide members360, 370, have a friction fit with the corresponding structure.

The patch panel devices 310 described above may take the form of slidingtrays 331 mounted within, and slidable with respect to, a housing 2 orchassis. In other embodiments, substantially self-contained cassettesmay be utilized, the cassettes being capable of being swapped into orout of a chassis, with the cassettes providing the sliding functionentirely. For example, a cassette 500 is shown in an exploded view inFIG. 8A. The cassette 500 generally includes a cassette housing 510,which may be a substantially rectangular box with an open front, and acassette head portion 520 slidable into and out of the housing 510. Thesides of cassette housing 510 may include rail slots 512 to facilitatesliding of the cassette head 520, as described in greater detail below.

A front of cassette head 520 includes a plurality of ports 7 arranged ina similar or identical fashion as described in relation to patch panel310, for example with laterally pivotable ports 7. Extending from eachside of the rear of cassette head is a rail 530 for sliding into or outof the rail slots 512 of cassette housing 510. FIG. 8B illustratescassette 500 with cassette head 520 in the pulled out position in whichports 7 may be easily accessed and may move in relation to one anotherin the same fashion as described above in connection with patch panel310. FIG. 8C illustrates cassette 500 with cassette head 520 in thestored condition, the cassette head 520 being completely orsubstantially completely contained within cassette housing 510.

FIG. 8D shows a cross section of one side of cassette housing 510 withrails 530 of cassette head 520 positioned therein, to illustrate themechanism that provides sliding motion between cassette housing 510 andcassette head 520. In particular, a portion of top housing 510 a, bottomhousing 510 b, and a sidewall 510 c of housing 510 are shown in FIG. 8D.An extension 511 extends from top housing 510 a toward bottom housing510 b, although not the entire distance therebetween. The extension 511,sidewall 510 c, and portions of top housing 510 a and bottom housing 510b define rail slot 512, in which a rail 530 of cassette housing issecured. As cassette head 520 is pulled out of or pushed into cassettehousing 510, the interaction of the rails 530 in rail slots 512 helpkeep the cassette head 520 in a desired orientation and facilitate thesliding motion. Stops may be included, if desired, so that rails 530 areunable to unintentionally completely exit cassette housing 510, so thata user does not unintentionally decouple the cassette head 520 from thecassette housing 510 as it is transitioned to the pulled out position.Although on example of rails 530 and rail slots 512 are illustrated inFIG. 8D, other similar structures of rails and rail slots may be used toachieve the same result. As shown in FIG. 8E, an insert 513 may bepositioned within rail slot 512. The insert 513 may be any desirablematerial and extend along substantially the entire length of the railslot. The insert 513 may have a first stop to prevent the insert 513from sliding out of the rail slot 512, and a second stop so that therail 530 of the cassette head 520 is stopped from sliding out of theinsert. With this configuration, the insert 513 may extend the lengthwhich cassette head 520 may slide with respect to cassette housing 510.In addition, the material and dimensions of insert 513 may be chosen toprovide for smoother sliding between cassette head 520 and cassettehousing 510. For example, if rail 530 and rail slot 512 are both metal,a plastic insert 513 may provide for smoother sliding. To provide forextending the length which cassette head 520 may slide with respect tocassette housing 510, it may be preferable for insert 513 to be formedof a hard metal.

Cassette 500 may be modular in the sense that it may be inserted into achassis and, if for example a cassette is damaged, it may be easilyremoved from the housing and replaced with another. For example, FIG. 9Ashows a chassis 600 that may be used to hold a plurality of cassettes500. In the illustrated embodiment, chassis 600 includes two verticalchannels for accepting cassettes 500, each channel having a plurality ofsupports 610 to support cassettes 500. FIG. 9B shows chassis 600 withthree cassettes 500 installed and one cassette 500 in the process ofbeing installed. Any of the cable guides 400 described above, ormodifications thereof, may provide cable slack management functionalityfor the cassette version of the system as the patch panel versionsdescribed above. For example, one or more mounting arms 410 of cableguides 400 may be coupled to the chassis 600 so that cables connected toports in a cassette 500 may be managed as the cassette head 520 slidesrelative to the cassette housing 510. In addition, because the cassettehousing 510 is stationary with respect to the chassis 600, the mountingarm 410 of a cable guide 400 may be coupled directly to the cassettehousing 510. Since the cassette housing 510 remains stationary withrespect to the cassette head 520, as the cassette head 520 slides intoor out of the cassette housing 510, the cable guide 400 remainsstationary despite being fixed to the cassette housing.

FIG. 10A shows a perspective view of a patch panel system 1000 accordingto another embodiment of the disclosure. Patch panel system 1000 mayinclude an outer housing 1002 with side walls, top and bottom walls, adistal or rear wall, and an open front or proximal face. However, aproximal cover, such as a door or other cover that allows access insidethe outer housing 1002, may be used in conjunction with the outerhousing although such a cover is not shown in the figures. FIG. 10Bshows a top view of patch panel system 1000 with the top wall of outerhousing 1002 omitted for clarity of illustration. An inner housing 1003may be positioned within outer housing 1002, preferably completelywithin the boundaries of the outer housing 1002. The inner housing 1003may include side walls, and top, bottom and rear walls that may beintegral with corresponding walls of the outer housing 1002, or whichmay be separate and distinct from the walls of the outer housing. Innerhousing 1003 may include a plurality of slots stacked in a verticalarrangement, similar to the supports 610 of the chassis 600 of FIG. 9A.Each slot is adapted to hold a tray or cassette 1010 in slidingengagement with the slot, although in practice every slot may notnecessarily have a cassette 1010 received therein. Each cassette 1010may be generally similar to patch panel devices 110, 210, 310 and/orcassettes 500 described above, the cassettes 1010 including ports orother connectors to connect to cables. Each cassette 1010 may include ahandle 1012 extending from a proximal end to provide a grip for a userto pull the cassette 1010 out of the inner housing 1003, for exampleinto the position shown in FIGS. 10G-H, for easy access to thecassette(s) 1010 of interest. Outer housing 1002 may include one or moreaccess ports 1004 to allow for cables or other items to pass between theinside and the outside of the outer housing. As shown in FIG. 10A,access ports 1004 may take the form of cylindrical members that may beintegral with the bottom wall of outer housing 1002, although anyopening that allows cables to pass from outside to inside the outerhousing 1002 (or vice versa), may be suitable.

In one example, patch panel system 1000 may be used to patch connectionsfrom a vendor, such as a cable provider, to a customer, such as anapartment complex or individual units thereof. The outer housing 1002may be particularly suited to be used outside, with the outer housing1002 providing protection from the elements to the components within theouter housing 1002, including the inner housing 1003. For such a use,cables from the vendor may enter through access ports 1004 on one sideof outer housing 1002, for example the right side, and connect to portsin the rear of one or more cassettes 1010. Other cables may extend fromthe rear of one or more cassettes 1010, through corresponding accessports 1004 for example on the left side of the outer housing 1002, toindividual units within the apartment complex to provide connectionbetween the individual customer and the vendor. Patch panel system 1000may provide a convenient system for operating and maintaining theconnections between the vendor and the individual customers, forexample, with one or more cables C2 extending from and connecting afront or proximal side of one cassette 1010 in inner housing 1003 to thefront of another cassette in the inner housing.

Although FIGS. 10A-H show a single cable C2 connected between the frontends of two cassettes 1010, in practice many cables C2 could beconnected between the fronts of pairs of cassettes 1010. In such asituation, management of these cables C2 may become difficult,particularly when a user needs to access a particular cable or cablesC2. To assist in the management of cables connected to patch panelsystem 1000, the patch panel system 1000 may include a pivotable hangerplate assembly 1020. Hanger plate assembly 1020 may include a hangerplate 1021 which may, for example, be a rigid rectangular plate coupledto a side wall of inner housing by one or more hinges 1022. Hanger plate1021 preferably has a height that is less than the distance between thebottom and top walls of the outer housing 1002, and a width that issmaller than the distance between the side walls of the outer and innerhousing between which the hanger plate 1021 is positioned. With thisconfiguration, hanger plate 1021 may swing with a range of motion abouthinge(s) 1022 from being positioned inside the outer housing 1002 asshown in FIGS. 10A-B, through a transition position shown in FIGS.10E-F, to a position outside the outer housing 1002 as shown in FIGS.10G-H.

Enlarged top and isolated perspective views of the hanger plate assembly1020 are shown in FIGS. 10C-D. A plurality of hangers 1023 may becoupled to proximal face of hanger plate 1021. Each hanger 1023 mayinclude a substantially flat surface on which a cable C2 may rest. Aguide surface 1024 may be positioned on one end of the hanger 1023.Guide surface 1024 is illustrated as having a circular cross-section.Although guide surface 1024 does not need to have a circularcross-section, it preferably includes a curvature that provides aminimum bending radius which restricts cable C2 from bending so muchthat cable C2 becomes damaged. As best seen in FIG. 10G, guide surface1024 may be a formed by a single cylindrical member extendingsubstantially the entire height of the hanger plate 1021. However, itshould be understood that a separate guide surface 1024 may be providedfor each individual hanger 1023 if desired.

Each hanger 1023 may also be associated with one or more retainingmembers to help keep cable C2 positioned within hanger 1023. Forexample, each hanger 1023 may include an upwardly extending retainingmember 1025 extending upwardly from the flat surface of the hanger 1023.As best seen in FIG. 10D, upwardly extending retaining member 1025 maybe substantially cylindrical and extend upwards toward a verticallyadjacent hanger 1023, without contacting the vertically adjacent hanger1023. Similarly, each hanger 1023 may also include a downwardlyextending retaining member 1026 extending downwardly from the flatsurface of the hanger 1023. As best seen in FIG. 10D, downwardlyextending retaining member 1026 may be substantially cylindrical andextend downwards toward a vertically adjacent hanger 1023, withoutcontacting the vertically adjacent hanger 1023. With this configuration,the space between two vertically adjacent hangers 1023 includes tworetaining members 1025, 1026 that may keep a cable C2 fromunintentionally exiting the space between the two vertically adjacenthangers 1023. However, like the fins 430 described in connection withFIG. 6A, space is provided between the ends of the retaining members1025, 1026 and the flat surfaces of the hangers 1023 so that a user mayremove (or insert) cable C2 from the space between vertically adjacenthangers 1023 by manually removing (or inserting) the cable C2 throughthe space between the retaining members 1025, 1026 and the surfaces ofthe hangers 1023. It should be understood that in a set of verticallystacked hangers 1023, the bottom-most hanger 1023 need not include adownwardly extending retaining member, and the top-most hanger 1023 neednot include an upwardly extending retaining member.

Hanger plate assembly 1020 may also include a rear hanger 1027 coupledto and extending from the rear of hanger plate 1021, extending in anopposite direction than hangers 1023. Preferably, only a single rearhanger 1027 is coupled to the rear of hanger plate 1021 at a top of thehanger near the top surface of the outer housing 1002. However, morerear hangers 1027 may be included if desired, including for example asecond rear hanger 1027 at the bottom of hanger plate 1021, or in anyother number and position as desired. Rear hanger 1027 may include aflat bottom surface between two upwardly extending surfaces that createa generally “U”-shaped channel. Cables that connect to the rear of thecassettes 1010 and exit through an access port 1004 may be bundledtogether and be partially routed along the “U”-shaped channel of rearhanger 1027 to help maintain those cables in an organized condition,reducing the likelihood those cables will interfere with cables C2 inthe front portion of outer housing 1002 or with the swinging movement ofhanger plate assembly 1020. It should be understood that cables enteringthe outer housing 1002 through an access port 1004 and coupled to therear of one or more cassettes 1010 may also be routed along the“U”-shaped channel of rear hanger 1027 for similar reasons. One or moreapertures (not illustrated) may be provided in the hanger plate 1021between the rear hanger 1027 and a hinge 1022 so that a bundle of cablespositioned within the rear hanger 1027 may pass through the hanger plate1021 and enter the inner housing 1003 so they may connect tocorresponding ports, such as those in the rear of particular cassettes1010. In some embodiments, the rear of the cassettes 1010 may beaccessible by an opening, provided by a door or other mechanism, so thatcables entering through access ports 1004 may connect directly to therear of cassettes 1010 where desired, without passing those cablesthrough hanger plate 1021.

Operation of the patch panel system 1000 with respect to theorganization of cables is described briefly. In a stored state, cablesentering or exit outer housing 1002 through access ports 1004 on theleft side of the outer housing and connecting to the rear of cassettemay be secured within the “U”-shaped channel of rear hanger 1027. CablesC2 extending from the front of cassettes 1010 to the front of othercassettes 1010 may each extend through a first hanger 1023 positionedadjacent the corresponding cassette 1010, guided along guide surface1024 to maintain a minimum bend, resting on the flat surface of hanger1023, and being maintained between vertically adjacent hangers 1023 byretaining members 1025, 1026. The particular cable C2 may exit the spacebetween vertically adjacent hangers 1023 between the retaining members1025, 1026 and the hanger plate 1021. After exiting, the cable C2 mayextend up or down generally along the hanger plate 1021, and enter thespace between a different pair of vertically adjacent hangers 1023,where the cable C2 may then couple to the front of a separate cassette1010. In the stored position, as shown in FIGS. 10A-B, the hangerassembly 1020 may be rotated about hinge 1022 so that the hanger plate1021 extends toward the rear wall of outer housing 1002. In thisposition, the cables C2 may have little to no slack. If a user desiresto access one or more cassettes 1010 and cables C2 to, for example,perform maintenance, the user can open a door on the front of outerhousing 1002, if such a door is included. Before pulling out a cassette1010, the slack in cables C2 may be increased. The user may begin toincrease the slack in cables C2 by grasping a portion of the hangerplate assembly 1020, for example the hanger plate 1021 or any of thehangers 1023, and beginning to pull the hanger assembly proximally asshown in FIGS. 10E-F. As the hanger plate assembly 1020 continues torotate about hinge 1022, the hanger plate 1021 and the associatedhangers 1023 continue to rotate until the hanger plate 1021 exits thefront of outer housing 1002, as seen in FIGS. 10G-H. With the hangerplate assembly 1020 rotated at least partially out of outer housing1002, the slack in cables C2 is further increased. The user may thenpull one or more cassettes 1010 proximally out of the outer housing1002, which may be facilitated by use of handle(s) 1012. As the cassette1010 is pulled out, slack in the cables C2 may begin to increase as theproximal face of the cassette 1010 is aligned with the retainer members1025, 1026. As the cassette 1010 is pulled out further to a proximaldistance from the housing 1002 greater than the retainer members 1025,1026, the slack in the cables C2 may begin to decrease again.Preferably, when the cassette 1010 is pulled out to the maximum extent,enough slack remains so that a user can easily manipulate the cables C2at the corresponding ports, but not there is not so much slack that thecables C2 are difficult to manage. As shown in FIGS. 10G-H, the cablesC2 and cassettes 1010 are easily accessible with both cables C2, and thecables resting on rear hanger 1027, maintained in an organized state. Itshould be understood that the patch panel system 1000 is not shown toscale in FIGS. 10A-H.

Referring now to FIGS. 10I-J, the positions of retaining members 1025,1026 and guide surface 1024 may be selected in order to attain a desiredslack management of cables C2 at all positions of hanger plate assembly1020 and cassettes 1010. For example, referring to FIG. 10I, theretaining members 1025, 1026 may be positioned a distance D4 from theproximal face of inner housing 1003 when the hanger plate assembly 1020is rotated out of the outer housing 1002. As the user pulls out cassette1010, slack in the cables C2 may initially increase compared to thatshown in FIG. 10I. Once the proximal face of cassette 1010 moves in theproximal direction past the position of the retaining members 1025,1026, slack may begin to decrease again. As shown in FIG. 10J, theproximal face of each cassette 1010 has a maximum distance D5 from theproximal face of inner housing 1003 when the cassette 1010 is in thefully pulled out position. Preferably, the distance D5 is about twicethe distance D4. With this configuration, when the hanger plate assembly1020 is rotated out of the outer housing 1002 as shown in FIGS. 10I-J,cables C2 may have about the same slack when the cassette 1010 is in thestored position shown in FIG. 10I and when the cassette 1010 is in thepulled out position shown in FIG. 10J. However, in other embodiments,distance D5 may be less than twice D4, so that there is a net increasein the slack of cables C2 when the cassette 1010 is transitioned fromthe stored condition to the pulled out condition. Such an increase inslack may make it easier for a user to manipulate the connection ofcables C2 with corresponding ports in cassette 1010. This feature issimilar to the related feature described above in connection with FIG.4B.

Although patch panel system 1000 is shown with a single hanger plateassembly 1020, it should be understood that patch panel system 1000 mayinclude a second hanger plate assembly on the opposite side of innerhousing 1003 of the first hanger plate assembly 1020. If a second hangerplate assembly is used, it may be identical to the first hanger plateassembly 1020 in structure and function, albeit the components would bein a mirrored position compared to the first hanger plate assembly 1020.Also, although the hanger plate assembly 1020 is shown with one hanger1023 for each cassette 1010, more or fewer individual hangers 1023 maybe provided. Still further, although hanger plate 1021 is shown as asingle rigid member so that all of the hangers 1023 attached to thehanger plate 1021 move in unison, in other embodiments a plurality ofindividually rotatable hanger plates may be provided. For example, ahanger plate may be provided in two portions, so that a top group ofhangers is separately rotatable with respect to a bottom group ofhangers. Still further, any number of hanger plates, up to the totalnumber of hangers so that each hanger may be individually rotatable, maybe used. However, a single hanger plate 1021 may be preferable for easeof use.

As noted above, patch panel system 1000 may be suited for outdoor use.When being used outdoors, it may be important that when the patch panelsystem 1000 is not being actively used or maintained, the components areall capable of being situated within the bounds of the outer housing1002, so that the components are protected from the elements. Thus, asnoted above, the width of the hanger plate 1021 should be less than thedistance between a side wall of the inner housing 1003 and thecorresponding side wall of the outer housing 1002, so that it may swingfrom outside the outer housing 1002 to inside the outer housing 1002where it is protected from the elements. However, it may be beneficialto provide a hanger plate that is wider than hanger plate 1021, so thatcables C2 may be guided with fewer sharp turns, such as where a cableexits one hanger 1023 and moves down or up the hanger plate 1021 towardsanother hanger 1023. This may beneficial because certain cables usedwith patch panel system 1000 may be quite stiff, making tight turnsdifficult to maintain.

The patch panel system 1000′ shown in FIGS. 11A-H addresses thepotential limitations described immediately above. Patch panel system1000′ may be identical to patch panel system 1000 in most or allrespects other than the hanger plate assembly 1020′. For example, patchpanel system 1000′ may include outer housing 1002, inner housing 1003,access ports 1004, and cassettes 1010 identical to those described inconnection with FIGS. 10A-H. As such, these components will not bedescribed in detail again.

Similar to the hanger plate assembly 1020 of patch panel system 1000,the hanger plate assembly 1020′ of patch panel system 1000′ has a storedcondition, shown in FIGS. 11A-B, a pulled out condition for access asshown in FIGS. 11G-H, with an intermediate position shown in FIGS.11E-F. A top view of the hanger plate assembly 1020′ in the storedcondition is shown in FIG. 11C, with inner and outer housings 1002, 1003omitted for clarity of illustration. Similar to hanger plater assembly1020, hanger plate assembly 1020′ may include a substantially rigidrectangular first hanger plate 1021 a′ coupled to inner housing 1003 byone or more hinges 1022. A plurality of hangers 1023, identical to thosedescribed above, may be coupled to the first hanger plate 1021 a′ in avertically stacked configuration. First hanger plate 1021 a′ may includeone or more rear hanger plates 1027 similar or identical to thosedescribed above.

First hanger plate 1021 a′ may have a height similar to the height ofhanger plate 1021, but may be narrower. In addition to first hangerplate 1021 a′, hanger plate assembly 1020′ may include a plurality ofadditional hanger plates hingedly coupled to one another and to firsthanger plate 1021 a′. In the particular embodiment of hanger plateassembly 1020′ shown, five additional hanger plates 1021 b′-1021 f′ arehingedly coupled to one another in series, with hanger plate 1021 b′hingedly coupled to first hanger plate 1021 a′. Each hanger plate 1021a′-1021 f′ may have a substantially similar height, and the widths ofthe plates may be similar or different from one another. Although hangerplates 1021 a′-f′ are shown as separate members that are coupled to oneanother by hinges, one or more of the hanger plates 1021 a′-f′ may beintegrally formed with a living hinge between adjacent plates to providesimilar functionality.

Hanger plate assembly 1020′ is shown in FIG. 11D in an extended orpulled out condition with outer housing 1002 and inner housing 1003omitted for clarity of illustration. Select ones of the hanger plates1021 a′-1021 f′ may include cable retainers 1030′. Each cable retainer1030′ may include two extensions, such as a top extension 1031′ and abottom extension 1032′. Top extension 1031′ may include a first portionextending away from and substantially orthogonally to the correspondinghanger plate, and a second “L”-shaped portion extending down from andorthogonal to the first portion and parallel to the corresponding hangerplate. The bottom extension 1032′ may include a first portion extendingaway from and substantially orthogonally to the corresponding hangerplate, and a second “L”-shaped portion extending up from and orthogonalto the first portion and parallel to the corresponding hanger plate.With this configuration, each extension may form a generally “U”-shapedchannel. The two “L”-shaped portions of the top extension 1031′ and thebottom extension 1032′ may be positioned with respect to one another sothat they form a rectangular shape with a gap between the “L”-shapedportions adapted to receive cable C2 therethrough and into one or bothof the “U”-shaped channels. As shown in FIG. 11D, two cable retainers1030′ may be positioned toward the top of an intermediate hanger plate1021 d′ and an end hanger plate 1021 f′, with two cable retainers 1030′positioned toward the bottom of hanger plates 1021 d′ and 1021 f′. Itshould be understood that more or fewer cable retainers 1030′ than shownmay be used with hanger plate assembly 1020′.

Cables C2 coupled to the front of a cassette 1010 may first pass througha corresponding hanger 1023 in the same fashion as described inconnection with FIGS. 10A-H. Cables C2 may then extend along thesequence of hanger plates and into one or both of the “U”-shapedchannels formed by a cable retainer 1030′ on one of the intermediatehanger plates, such as hanger plate 1021 d′. The cables C2 may continueto extend to the cable retainer 1030′ on the end hanger plate 1021 f′,at which point the cables C2 may extend up or down to the cableretainers 1030′ on the opposite end of the hanger plates. The end hangerplate 1021 f′ may include an end portion 1040′ that forms a “U”-shapechannel along substantially the entire height of the hanger plate 1021f′. End portion 1040′ may receive cables C2 that pass from the top cableretainer 1030′ on hanger plate 1021 f′ and to the bottom cable retainer1030′ on hanger plate 1021 f′. End portion 1040′ may ensure that cablesC2 stay in place as they switch directions and provide additionalprotection. End portion 1040′ may also be used as a handle for a user tograsp to pull the hanger plate assembly 1020′ out of outer housing 1002.

In the completely stored position, as shown in FIGS. 11A-B, the hangerplates 1021 a′-1021 f′ may collapse with respect to one another to forma “U”-shape that fits completely within outer housing 1002 between oneside wall of inner housing 1003 and the corresponding side wall of outerhousing 1002. If a user needs to access cassettes 1010 and cables C2 formaintenance, the user may pull hanger plate assembly 1020′ out of outerhousing 1002. As the user pulls hanger plate assembly 1020′ proximally,the hinges between adjacent hanger plates 1021 a′-1021 f′ allow thehanger plate assembly 1020′ to begin to straighten and extend out of theouter housing 1002. As the user continues to pull hanger plate assembly1020′, it transitions into a fully extended configuration as shown inFIGS. 11G-H, where all of the hanger plates 1021 a′-1021 f′ aresubstantially straight with respect to one another. In thisconfiguration, the user may then pull out one or more cassettes 1010 asdesired to perform maintenance on cables C2 as desired. The position ofthe retaining members 1025, 1026 and the guide surface 1024 with respectto the maximum distance that the cassettes 1010 may slide may be basedon the same or similar considerations as described above in connectionwith FIGS. 10I-J.

Compared to hanger plate assembly 1020, hanger plate assembly 1020′ mayprovide an increased effective length along which cable C2 may extend,despite the same amount of space being available between the walls ofinner housing 1003 and outer housing 1002. As noted above, if cables C2are stiff, the additional length provided by hanger plate assembly 1020′may make the cables C2 more easily and safely stored and maintained.Although cable retainers 1030′ are shown as having particular structure,number, and relative positioning, it should be understood that otherforms of cable retainers may be suitable. For example, any structurethat provides support for the cables C2 as they run along the hangerplates 1021 a′-1021 f′, particularly those that allow for the cables C2to be inserted into or removed from the retainers with intentionaleffort, but to keep the cables from exiting unintentionally, may besuitable alternates to the disclosed embodiment.

Although patch panel system 1000′ is shown with a single hanger plateassembly 1020, it should be understood that two hanger plate assembliesmay be used. An example of this is shown in FIG. 12, where patch panelsystem 1000″ is identical to patch panel system 1000′ in all respectswith the exception of the number of hanger plate assemblies. Hangerplate assembly 1020 a″ may be identical to hanger plate assembly 1020′in structure and function. A second hanger plate assembly 1020 b″, whichmay be an identical but mirror configuration of hanger plate assembly1020 a″, may be coupled to right wall of inner housing 1003. Theadditional hanger plate assembly 1020 b″ may provide for additionalmanagement of cables C2, particularly those coupled to near the rightside of the front of cassettes 1010.

Although the invention herein has been described with reference toparticular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodimentsare merely illustrative of the principles and applications of thepresent invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerousmodifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that otherarrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

1. A communication system, comprising: a housing; a tray having aplurality of ports each having a front face connectable to a cable, thetray movably engaged with the housing and having a first distal positionsubstantially inside the housing and a second proximal positionsubstantially outside the housing; and a cable guide for supporting atleast one of the plurality of cables, the cable guide having an operableposition with respect to the housing, wherein, in the first distalposition, the front faces of the ports are positioned distal to theoperable position of the cable guide a first distance from the cableguide and, in the second proximal position, the front faces of the portsare positioned proximal to the operable position of the cable guide asecond distance from the cable guide, the second distance being lessthan the first distance.
 2. The communication system of claim 1, whereinthe cable guide is rotatable with respect to the housing from a storedposition to the operable position.
 3. The communication system of claim1, wherein the cable guide has a fixed position relative to the housing,the fixed position being the operable position.
 4. The communicationsystem of claim 3, wherein the cable guide further comprises a mountingarm configured for fixing to the housing.
 5. The communication system ofclaim 3, wherein the cable guide has a plurality of shelves arrangedvertically, each shelf having a first end and a second free end spacedapart from the first end.
 6. The communication system of claim 5,wherein the first end of a first shelf is connected to the first end ofa second shelf by a convex surface, the first and second shelves beingvertically adjacent to one another.
 7. The communication system of claim5, wherein the cable guide further comprises a first fin extending fromthe second free end of a first shelf toward a second shelf, the firstand second shelves being vertically adjacent to one another.
 8. Thecommunication system of claim 7, wherein the cable guide furthercomprises a second fin extending from the second free end of the secondshelf toward the first shelf, the first and second fins defining anopening therebetween.
 9. The communication system of claim 7, whereinthe first fin extends substantially orthogonally from the first shelf.10. The communication system of claim 5, wherein the cable guide furthercomprises a strap fastener coupled to one of the plurality of shelves,the strap fastener having a first free end and a second free endreleasably attachable to the first free end.
 11. The communicationsystem of claim 10, wherein the first free end of the strap fastener iscoupled to the one shelf with a bolt or rivet extending through a firstaperture in the strap and a second corresponding aperture in the oneshelf.
 12. The communication system of claim 5, wherein a plurality ofthe trays is arranged vertically, a pair of vertically adjacent traysbeing spaced apart by a first vertical distance, and a pair ofvertically adjacent shelves being spaced apart by a second distancesubstantially equal to the first distance.
 13. The communication systemof claim 1, wherein, when the system is in a state in which a firstcable is connected at one end to one of the ports and supported by thecable guide at a portion of the first cable a predetermined length ofthe first cable from the one end, the first cable has a first slack whenthe tray is in the first distal position, a second slack when the trayis in the second proximal position, and a third slack when the tray isin a third position intermediate the first and second positions, thethird slack being greater than the first slack and the second slack. 14.The communication system of claim 1, the tray being adapted to slide afirst distance in a first direction from the first distal position tothe second proximal position, wherein the cable guide in the operableposition is positioned a second distance in the first direction from thefront faces of the plurality of ports when the tray is in the firstdistal position, the first distance being less than double the seconddistance.
 15. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the tray is ahead of a cassette and the housing is a housing of the cassette, thetray including at least two rails adapted to slide into and out ofcorresponding rail slots defined by the cassette housing.
 16. Thecommunication system of claim 15, further comprising a chassis adaptedto retain a plurality of cassettes.
 17. The communication system ofclaim 16, wherein the cable guide is fixed to the chassis in theoperable position.
 18. The communication system of claim 16, wherein thecable guide is fixed to the housing of one of the plurality of cassettesin the operable position.
 19. A communication system comprising: ahousing; a tray having a plurality of ports each having a front faceconnectable to a cable, the tray movably engaged with the housing andhaving a first position substantially inside the housing and a secondposition substantially outside the housing; and a cable guide forsupporting at least one of the plurality of cables, the cable guidehaving an operable position with respect to the housing, wherein, whenthe system is in a state in which the cable guide is in the operableposition and a first cable is connected at one end to one of the portsand supported by the cable guide at a portion of the first cable apredetermined length of the first cable from the one end, the firstcable has a first slack when the tray is in the first position, a secondslack when the tray is in the second position, and a third slack whenthe tray is in a third position intermediate the first and secondpositions, the third slack being greater than the first slack and thesecond slack.
 20. The communication system of claim 19, wherein thecable guide is rotatable with respect to the housing from a storedposition to the operable position.
 21. The communication system of claim19, wherein the cable guide has a fixed position relative to thehousing, the fixed position being the operable position.
 22. Thecommunication system of claim 21, wherein the cable guide includes amounting arm configured for fixing to the housing.
 23. The communicationsystem of claim 22, wherein the cable guide includes a shelving unitadapted to removably couple to the mounting arm.